is it normal

[kidkaos520]

Recently my clown fish have had some weird behavior. The male seems to be real territorial when I stick my hand in to feed and adjust things the attacks my hand. Dont know how to really explain it but I dont know if they are fighting or flirting with each other. Then they seem to be picking at the rocks that they normally swim by. Can anyone I.D. this behavior

 

[a4twenty]

sounds like a little housekeeping while they prepare to lay eggs, congratulations

 

[kidkaos520]

Really I have had this pair for maybe a month and they might be 5 months old if that

 

[kidkaos520]

any more opinions???

 

[Henryreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14779730#post14779730 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
sounds like a little housekeeping while they prepare to lay eggs, congratulations

+1 sounds like it

 

[a4twenty]

i'll give you a bump.......


and explain a little more.

the aggression toward you may just be the species of clown, which do you have???

you seem quite sure that you have a female and male, so they're mature fish. if they were two females you would likely see them locking mouths, which is a sign of them fighting. if what your seeing is the female being aggressive toward the male and him submitting, that is clownfish flirting.

picking at "their" rock is usually a sign that eggs are on the way. take a close look at the females belly, does it appear swollen at all??


HTH

 

[LiveRound69]

my female clarkii pecks at my hand when i get near her rock that has her sebae anemone beside it. she also runs to my GBTA that my male clarkii stays in. he isnt a biter like she is. so i would say that a4twenty is telling you the truth. I do also know that some clowns dont prefer you to do housekeeping..it is after all,...their reef and its the same behavior that divers report when they venture too close to a clownfish's hosting area. Nipping and biting at the divers mask , fingers,etc

 

[kidkaos520]

OHHHHHHH it makes a lot more sense to me now...by the way they are grade B picasso fish and they came to me as a mated pair. Wow I am kind of excited now. I really do appreciate it. Anymore advice on what I should do?

 

[a4twenty]

unfortunately there is way to much stuff to be prepared to try and successfully hatch the eggs and raise the babies. you need tanks setup ( brood and grow out ), phyto and rotifer's cultures under productions. etc..... and a way to harvest the eggs. the only thing you can do for this batch is just watch, the eggs will likely disappear shortly after being laid, either eaten by the clowns or other fish / inverts.

if you are really interested in trying, there are many good threads and loads of info on getting the setup ready here on RC.


HTH

 

[kidkaos520]

oh yea this I know ive read so many threads my brain is going to explode. The only thing i haave not read yet is the Joyce Wilkerson book which is next on my list.